Coupling



H. R. HARDING July 18, 1950 COUPLING Original Filed Dec. 26, 1947 mn N m w m 7 Z w m. g x w glnfientnr H/RAM R. HARDING.

Patented July 18, 1950 COUPLING Hiram R. Harding, Baltimore, Md., assignor of fifty per cent to Harry E. Kart, Baltimore County, Md., and twenty-five per cent to Logan G. Harding, Hopewell, Va.

Original application December 26, 1947, Serial No.

v 793,917 now Patent No. 2,469,111, dated May 3, .1949. f Divided and this application November 27,1948; Serial No. 62,355

3ClaimS. (Cl. 285-75) This invention relates to couplings and unions for piping, and more-particularly to those'for the attachment of tubing, and is a divisional application of that "shown in Patent No. 2,469,111, issued May 3, 1949, for LockedCoupling. V

In a particular form of coupling for tubing, the end of the tubing is flared out as it enters the coupling without any support being afforded to the walls of the tubing adjacent thereto. This work it is intended for. 4

tively simple in structure.

invention is more fully outlined.

tion to show its interior construction;

struction show its inner construction; and

portion being in section to show its interior: construction.

Similar reference numerals throughout the drawings serve to point out the same parts;

In the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tubing 1i] if preferably made of copper, aluminum or other similar material, the end portions H are provided with flared out walls 12 that project upwardly and outwardly to an enlarged cylininduces stresses in the tubing that render its drical section or collar 13 which prevent the tubtightness uncertain ,as well as causes weakness at ing from becoming disengaged from the lock fitthe line of entranceenabling it to bend readily ting member 14, as indicated. The cap element and break off. This is particularly objectionable '15 is symmetrically formed to include a hexagonal because of the desirability of having that portion exterior surface 16 for use with a wrench, while of the juncture particularly strong. In this ininteriorly its wall surfaces 17 are tapered to vention, the tubing passed. into a hollow plug bind against the inwardly converging surfaces 18 so that a substantial portion of the tubing will of the wedge nut 85. The latter are held and be encompassed by its wall and supported thereby screwed onto the ends of a nipple member 19 and place the end of the tubing deep in the plug that is provided with a central hexagonal porwhere the flaring will not aflect its structural 20 tion 80 for turning purposes, and a central p strength, outside of the coupling. Other details Sage 8| therethrough. The end portions 82 of are provided to increase the practical utility of the pple member ar e t ly chamfered and the device and render it more desirable for the restricted to facilitate the pl of the n l p v v end 88 ofthe tubing 10 thereon and forcing them t i therefore an bj t b th present i to bend between the bevelled surface 82 and un vention to provide a new and improved coupling (1613111? 34 0f the ppl e dge nut 35 has device that will avoid one or more of the disadits 0111391 P S 35 of hBXagOnal nut form to vantages and limitations of the prior art. allOW t e useof a wrench thereon and the pas- Another object of the invention is to provide a age 8'! in this portion is cyllndrical in form to new and improved. coupling. device that will be 9 the tubing 79 Securely The W dge nut in strong, readilymanipulated, effective and. relathls instance is provided h an und r cut 88 p V which is connected with the walls of the passage Other objects will become apparent as the 81 by an angu r faced portion 0 Which binds the tube securely to the nipple member 19 when For a more complete understanding of the ine f d 111113 85 is screwed thereon. The wedge vention, its objects and principles thereof, a parnut 13 Provided W a peripheral groove 92 and ticular form of the invention is indicated in the p 75 is P ed Wit an inwardly turned accompanying drawings by way of example. fiange 93 th fits the Ve 92 under the These drawings in conjunction with the followx m 11p 95, w t0 be locked p ac th reing description facilitate the explanation while 40 h- W nut element has 1 the claims emphasize the scope of theinvention. port'mn 96 l t' tapered and 17S Wovlded Wf Referring to the drawings-:7 v slcgtls i9It longi tudingally placed there n to divide Figur? 1 is.a.longit.udinal w f 'f cquplmg In t le ril di i efl form shown in Figure 3, the embodymg thls mventlon pgrtlon 6mg m sec- 5 pipes are preferably of soft material such as 7 copper tubing and'the like. The end portions 52 Figure 2 f? elevatlon showmg one 9 the being funneled in shape to fit in their respecplugs before it IS screwed into the coupling, a tive Wedge nut elements 54 as indicated Its portion being in section to show its interior con- Sections 55 are Similar t those Shown and 1 50 scribed for Figures 1 and 2. Figure 3 is a longitudinal view of a modified The cap element 56 is symmetrically formed form of coupling, a portion being in section to to include a hexagonal exterior surface 51 for use with a wrench, while interiorly its wall surfaces Figure 4 is an elevation showing one of the 58 are tapered to bind against the inwardly conplugs before it is screwed into the coupling, a 55 verging surfaces 59 of the elements 54. The latter are held and screwed onto a middle nipple member 60. For this purpose the threads BI are provided on the interior of the elements 54 and the threads 63 on the exterior of the member 50. The end portions 62 are exteriorly chamfered and restricted to facilitate the placing of the funnel ends 52 of the tubing thereon and forcing them to bend between the bevelled surfaces 62 and G l and the passage 99 in this portion is cylindrical in form to hold the tubing 5% securely. Room for adjusting the elements 5% and tubing 50 is provided in the cap element 56 and the cooperat ing construction in the wedge element 5d.

Both forms of the invention are effective in preventing leakage at the coupling where the tubing is inserted, as the end portion of the tubing is kept deep in the coupling and its wall is supported substantially by the bases of the plugs. The tubing is encompassed for an appreciable distance within the plug before its end portion is forcibly expressed into a flare. This prevents the tubing from suffering from vibration and takes the greater stresses off the flared portion. It is not intended to limit the term coupling to that of its usual limited meaning, but to include joints between common piping, in addition to' specifications it is not desired to limit this application for patent to these particular forms or in any other way otherwise than limited by the scope thereof, as it is appreciated that other forms could be made that would use the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thu described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A coupling of the class described comprising in combination, a nipple member externally screw threaded throughout the greater portion of its length except adjacent the ends where it is unthreaded and terminated with a bevel, a cap element mounted on said nipple internally screw threaded for adjustment thereon longitudinally and including a tapered bell-like chamber there in about its longitudinal axis, a wedge nut having walls extending from its base into said chamber and coacting therewith in wedge-like manner when forced therein, said nut including screw threads on its interior adjustable on said nipple and having a recesstapering therefrom formed to permit the insertion of the end portion of a tubing therein for a substantial distance thereof through the wedge nut into the recess and between its encompassing walls and those of the nipple 'for holding the tubing tight in the coupling as the nut, plug and nipple are screwed on to each other.

2. A coupling of theiclas-s described comprising in "combination, a nipple member externally "screw threaded throughout the greater portion of its length except adjacent the ends where it is unthreaded and terminated with a bevel,

.a cap element mounted on said nipple internally screw threaded for adjustment thereon longitudinally and including a tapered bell-like chamber therein about its longitudinal axis, a wedge nut having walls extending from its base into said chamber and coacting therewith in wedgelike manner when forced therein, said nut ineluding. screw threads on its interior adjustable on said nipple. and having a recess tapering therefrom formed to permit the insertion of the end portion of a tubing therein for a substantial distance thereof through the wedge nut into the recess and between its encompassing walls and those of the nipple for, holding the tubing tight in the coupling as the nut, plug and nipple are screwed on to each other, said wedge nuts being slotted to permit resilient compression of its end portion on the tubing as it is screwed as aforesaid.

3. A coupling of the class described comprising in combination, a nipple member externally screw threaded throughout the greater portion of its length except adjacent the ends where it is unthreaded and terminated with a bevel, a cap element mounted on said nipple internally screw threaded for adjustmentthereon longitudinally and including a tapered bell-like chamber therein about its longitudinal axis, a wedge nut having walls extending from its base into said chamber and coacting therewith in wedge-like manner when forced therein, said nut including screw threads on its interior adjustable on said nipple and having arecess tapering therefrom formed to permit the insertion of the end portion of a tubing therein fOr a substantial distance thereof through the wedge nut into the recess and between its encompass-ing walls and those of the nipple for holding the tubing tight in the coupling as the nut, plug and nipple are screwed on to each other, said wedge nuts being slotted to permit resilient compression of its end portion on the tubing as it is screwed asaforesaid, said recess and end portion of the nipple being of funnel like formation coacting with each other to encompass said tubing end portion into a flared form of plural angular formation.

HIRAM R. HARDING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Australia Apr. 28, 1941 I 

